"A group of sperm whales known as Unit A appeared to be floating calmly near the Caribbean Sea's surface, which is not typical behavior for them. They were not socializing or asleep, indicating something unusual was happening."
"The whales began diving and rolling in the water, and there was a big gush of blood. Initially, Gero thought there had been an attack, but it turned out to be a birth."
"Using machine learning to analyze the footage, Gero and his colleagues found that two matrilines of sperm whales cooperated to assist in the calf's birth, a behavior never observed in such detail before."
On July 8, 2023, Shane Gero observed unusual behavior in sperm whales off Dominica, initially mistaking it for an attack. Instead, a calf was born, showcasing cooperation among female-led matrilines. The team captured the event using photographs and drone footage. Analysis of this footage revealed detailed insights into the whales' behavior and communication during the birthing process, marking a significant discovery in understanding sperm whale social dynamics.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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